Image reproduced from 中時新聞網

The appearance of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Paraguay is shown in this file photo. According to Reuters, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung today (July 9) led a delegation of business representatives to visit Paraguay. During the visit, he will meet with important figures such as Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez, and co-host a reception to celebrate the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Paraguay.

Since Lin's appointment over a year ago, he has made visits to three South Pacific allies, five Central American and Caribbean allies, and the African ally Eswatini; the only countries he has not yet publicly visited are the Vatican and Paraguay. It is worth noting that President Lai Ching-te visited Paraguay as Vice President in August 2023 to attend Peña's inauguration ceremony and celebrate the 66th anniversary of Taiwan-Paraguay diplomatic relations, during which Peña mentioned Taiwan twice in his speech.

Lin pointed out that he is actively promoting "integrative diplomacy," which aims to connect Taiwan more closely with the world. His strategy of "value diplomacy" aims to deepen international ties through democratic values. He also emphasized that "alliance diplomacy" aims to strengthen regional peace and security through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Additionally, Lin's "economic diplomacy" seeks to establish Taiwan as an "economic nation that never sets" to promote global industrial layout for Taiwanese businesses, and to strengthen economic exchanges and supply chain connections between Taiwan and Paraguay, enhancing the mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries in the economic field.

Within the framework of "integrative diplomacy," the Foreign Ministry is also sharing Taiwan's accumulated experiences and technologies in sectors such as semiconductor technology, healthcare, and education through the "Honorary Allies Program," aiming to build a more resilient foundation for development in collaboration with allied countries. Lin's visit to Paraguay will further assess how to introduce more of Taiwan's technological expertise based on existing cooperation, taking "value diplomacy" to the next level with "value-added diplomacy," injecting new development momentum into allied countries.

Moreover, Lin mentioned that in addition to formal visits, he would also inspect key cooperation projects between Taiwan and Paraguay, gaining a first-hand understanding of specific outcomes at various stages. These projects include the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park, the Taiwan-Paraguay University, the electric bus pilot project, and the medical information management efficiency enhancement program, with the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park set to be established as a demonstration area for Taiwan's digital application services.

To further strengthen economic exchanges between Taiwan and Paraguay, Lin also invited representatives from Taiwanese enterprises across several sectors, including semiconductors, information communications, smart transportation, smart agriculture, construction, and high-tech functional fabrics to join the delegation, hoping to explore potential cooperation opportunities for the Taiwan-Paraguay Smart Technology Park and position Paraguay as a base for Taiwanese businesses in the Southern Common Market.